208 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bill. 43 



latter, who was in the soldier's cabin, became angered at this threat and told 

 him he might see outside which was the stronger. At this defiance, the soldier, 

 crying " murder," summoned the guard to his assistance. The guard ran up 

 and the young man urged it to shoot at the warrior, who was returning to his 

 village at an ordinary gait. One soldier was imprudent enough to do so. The 

 old man fell at the shot. Soon the commandant was informed of what had 

 passed and repaired to the place where the witnesses, for there were French 

 and Natchez — where the witnesses, I say, informed him of the deed. Justice 

 and prudence would have dictated that he should intlict on the soldier an 

 exemplary chastisement. He dismissed him, however, with a reprimand, after 

 which the natives made a litter and carried away their warrior, who died of his 

 wounds the following night, although the gun had been loaded only with buck- 

 shot * . * * . 



The first efi'ect of the resentment of the Natchez fell on a Frenchman named 

 M. Guenot, whom they suri)rised returning from the fort to St. Catherine, and 

 on another settler, whom they killed in his bed. Soon afterward they attacked 

 simultaneously the grant of St. Catherine and that below Fort Rosalie. 

 It was in this last that I had established my dwelling. I then saw my- 

 self exposed, along viith many others, to pay with my goods and perhaps 

 with my life for the rashness of a soldier and the too great gentleness of his 

 captain. But as I already knew the character of the people with whom we had 

 to deal, I did not despair of being able to save both the one and the other. I 

 barricaded myself in my house, and having placed myself in a position of de- 

 fense, when they came at night, according to their custom, to surprise me, 

 they did not dare to make an attack. 



This first attempt, which I well judged would be followed by one and per- 

 haps several others, determined me, when day came, to retire close to the 

 fort, as did all the settlers, and to carry thither all the provisions which I had 

 in my dwelling. I was able to execute my plan only in part. My slaves hav- 

 ing begun by carrying over the best things, scarcely had I arrived at the fort 

 when the commandant begged me to put myself at the head of a detachment of 

 settlers to go to the assistance of St. Catherine. He had already sent thither all 

 of his garrison, retaining only five men to guard the fort, and this succor was not 

 suflieient to relieve the concession, which the natives pressed vigorously in gi-eat 

 numbers. 



I departed without delay. The shots could be heard at a distance, but the 

 noise ceased as soon as I arrived, and the natives appeared to have retired. 

 Without doubt they had seen me on my march, and the sight of the reenforce- 

 ment conducted by me had impressed them. The officer who commanded the 

 detachment of the garrison which I relieved returned to the fort with his troop, 

 and the command having thus devolved on me, I had all the negroes assembled 

 and ordered them to cut all the bushes which covered the country, favoring the 

 approach of the enemy even to the doors of the houses of this concession. This 

 operation was performed without any trouble, except a dozen shots fired by 

 the natives from the woods on the other side of the river, where they were 

 concealed; for the plain about St. Catherine being absolutely cleared of all that 

 might mask them they no longer dared to appear there. 



However, the commandant of Fort Rosalie brought influence to bear on the 

 Tattooed-serpent that this great war cliief might calm that part of his nation 

 and procure peace. As he was one of our friends he worked effectively to 

 that end and hostilities ceased. After I had passed twenty-four hours at St. 

 Catherine I was relieved by a new detachment of settlers whom I relieved in 

 my turn the next day. It was during this second period that I mounted guard 

 that the village with which war was made sent me the calumet of peace 



